News and comment on church closings and on modern Catholic life throughout the world. The practice of Catholic devotions as a remedy and in reparation will also be encouraged. If anyone has any news on any Catholic Church closures anywhere in the world, pictures and suggested links please feel free to e-mail. Also pay a visit to the extensive archives- also click on labels.

_________________________________________________ Lord have mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us Holy Mother of God, pray for us Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us Mother of Christ, pray for us Mother of divine grace, pray for us Mother most pure, pray for us Mother most chaste, pray for us Mother inviolate, pray for us Mother undefiled, pray for us Mother most amiable, pray for us Mother most admirable, pray for us Mother of good counsel, pray for us Mother of our Creator, pray for us Mother of our Redeemer, pray for us Virgin most prudent, pray for us Virgin most venerable, pray for us Virgin most renowned, pray for us Virgin most powerful, pray for us Virgin most merciful, pray for us Virgin most faithful, pray for us Mirror of justice, pray for us Seat of wisdom, pray for us Cause of our joy, pray for us Spritual vessel, pray for us Vessel of honor, pray for us Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us Mystical rose, pray for us Tower of David, pray for us Tower of ivory, pray for us House of gold, pray for us Ark of the covenant, pray for us Gate of Heaven, pray for us Morning Star, pray for us Health of the sick, pray for us Refuge of sinners, pray for us Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us Help of Christians, pray for us Queen of Angels, pray for us Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us Queen of Prophets, pray for us Queen of Apostles, pray for us Queen of Martyrs, pray for us Queen of Confessors, pray for us Queen of Virgins, pray for us Queen of all Saints, pray for us Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us Queen of peace, pray for us

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us.

Pray for us, most holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, Who hast prepared the body and soul of the blessed Mary, Virgin and Mother, to be a fitting receptacle for Thy Son, grant that we who rejoice in her commemoration may, by her loving intercession, be delivered from present evils and everlasting death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

William Byrd and Catholicism. In times of persecution, private devotions are vital to maintaining the Faith. The lack of private devotions in the modern church indicates that they would not survive such storms.

Parishioners at five Roman Catholic churches in Johnstown’s Cambria City neighborhood understand what lies at the end of the journey that began when the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese announced in February that it would merge the congregations.

* St. Stephen’s will serve as the home church for the new parish, while St. Rochus will be part of what Bishop Joseph Adamec called the “parish complex,” but will no longer offer Mass.

* SS. Casimir & Emerich, Immaculate Conception and St. Columba are scheduled to close by July, when the merger is to be complete.